Carpal Tunnel Pics (not too graphic!)

Hi Betty,

I use.........vaseline! Gently rubbed in, a few times a day.

Andy

Hi Ken, The answer to your question is no. I don't have any numbness at all and rubbing the scar causes no pain. It is sensitive to touch, sure. But this is improving with time. Gently introducing different textures definately helps. It improves your confidence that it can be touched and some people say it helps the nerves re-learn the sensations. I think that this goes to prove that everyone is different and that you should not lose heart if things are not perfect straight away. The healing you can see on the outside is just the tip of the iceberg.

heres pic of my left wrist which is probably the most visible of the two scars

I'm amazed! Really. Almost invisible. Had the surgery done in March 2014, mine is much more visible.

Yh faded over the years couldnt lift a pint before op😱, but only got better and stronger once done😃

Hi Jina! WHY do you get the stitches removed 4 weeks after the surgery? The normal procedure is 2 weeks after the surgery. I had "the normal stitches", the unnormal gypsam filled stiff bandage and got the stitches removed at the clinic after 2 weeks. Make sure to do the exercises with your hand/s a couple of times each day!! I'm sure you've been instructed to do the pumping exercises?! Holding the hands up in the air spreading the fingers, lower them rather slowly while making fists and up again rather slowly spreading your fingers in the air, repeat 10-20 times. Both in the morning and in the evening plus during the day if you need to. You while be much better if the progress is as it uses to be after cts surgery. Good luck!

Hi Ken

Thanks for the reply I am very confused now.. 😞.. No they never advised me on any exercises as well... I have been told that I'm due to have the stitches removed after four weeks.. I've had blood in my fresh plaster as well this week. I'm due for a,plaster change on Friday.. A few of my friends had the same procedure but had dissolvable stitches.. Maybe I need to speak to the nurse on Friday.. Thanks again 😊

Öööööhhhhhhhh......? If you don't do the exercises, how do you get rid of the swollen hands? When they become swollen, of course they will hurt. Try the exercise I described, tomorrow. Keep in mind also to hold your hand/s in the air during daytime as much as possible. I had my hand in the air 24 hours a day for two weeks, and after that...

Hi Jina, sad to hear you are having problems with your cts. It certainly doesn't sound good. Mine was done 16 days ago and as mentioned before, in all cases, stitches come out after 14 days. You should have been given an emergency telephone number to ring - ring it NOW!

The fact that it is still very painful and fingers swollen etc, indicates there is something wrong. You may have an infection, especially as you say. There is fresh blood showing.Two options here: 1. Get to walk in centre or emergency gp appointment TODAY! 2. Call an ambulance.

Sorry for being dramatic but what you are going through isn't normal it needs immediate action.

Let me know how you get on.

Mine was done 16days ago and am able to move hand without pain &only thin scar showing. Don't leave it any longer ok?

Hi Wini

Thanks for the advice I cant seem to

add a photo of my hand on here. I have taken your advice and I've got a app with my nurse today..😊.. I really don't know why I'm having the stitches in for four weeks its crazy.. I will let you know on the outcome.. Thanks again 😊

Hope it gets sorted soon. Do you have any family or friends nearby that can help with the children and you?

This may help if you are on StreetLife .com

Put out an all rounder to see if there is anyone who is willing to spare an hour or two to hel you. There are very nice people living near you that may.

Or, contact your local church or WI group, though not sure if you are happy to so that.

These are just ideas.

Hi Jina, I had both tunnels done 3 days ago. I've experienced one day of pain and no swelling. I go for the stitches out after 14 days. Please go see your doctor Asap because everything points to an infection. If so you will have been in immense pain and I really feel for you. I'd go to accident emergency now. Best of luck and let us know how you go on. 

Hi Wini

I went to see the nurse and she said there's no infection and its a slow healing process...😞.. She also said that my fingers will feel numb and be swollen up and its "normal"... She also never had the right plaster and said it doesn't matter.. I have rang the hospital and the nurse will get back to me.. I don't understand why my healing process is any different than everyone else... Really confused 😖

Hi Jina, something doesn't seem right. I take it the nurse knows all about CTS. Her comments indicate that your recovery is "normal, when they most definitely aren't.     4 weeks to stitches out is def not normal. It should be 2 weeks. You should now be having yours out and be well on the road to recovery.any swelling should have gone.

I am into my fourth day. I have no swelling and no pain. If I stretch my hand it is sore, obviously. I am actually wondering wether to take the bandages off to get some air to the wounds. (Much to my wife's annoyance) !  

 

Hi Jina,

What everyone else has said is right, Elevate you hand above your head whenever you can, this will ease the swelling. Sit with it up, put your hand near your shoulder when you are walking around, and try to sleep with your arm up on the pillow. This will allow the fluids causing your swelling to naturally drain away. Move your fingers gently, make fists but don't lift aything, and don't do anything that hurts,Stitches need to come out in ten days. Change the close dressing every 4/5 days and keep it clean. Anyone can do this with alcohol wipes and a new dressing you can get from you local surgery or pharmacy or doctor.

I agree with you Andy. I's important to keep the hand up in the air. What surprises me is that not every surgeon seem to have told the patient that?! When it comes to changing the close dressing... I didn't at all for the whole two weeks! But I wasn't suppose to do that. And there were no sign of any liquid when I got released from the bandage after 2 weeks. My hand was all wrapped up in a hard stiff gypsum filled bandage - like the one you have when the hand is completely broken! I still wonder why I got that one. Anyone else??

I'd like to upload a photo of my op for you to see how fantastic it looks but I don't know how! Searching for an image attachment button seems useless. Am I going dotty!

Jina, This is the process I had to make: After op - 48hrs with arm in sling so that wrist is above heart level. At night I had to rest on pillow. During this time I wiggled my fingers - stretched them a little - close to fist a little - nothing else. After 4th day, took big bandage off but left small see through dressing with white centre on until stitches came out - 14 days after op. During this time I increased the fingers exercises until slight ache then stopped.

I was told adamantly that should I use the hand in ANY way, I will get problems. Hence the reason why I was asked if I had anyone to take care of me.

I find it hard - very hard - to believe that you had the op over two weeks ago but must wait 6 weeks in total for the stitches to be removed! That is ludicrous and I believe wrong.

Had your op been only a couple of days ago, then it is early days, but even then your stitches should be coming out in ten days.

I still feel if it is still painful, bleeding, swollen to the point of going bluish, you must go to a&e. These are the very symptoms I was instructed to look out for after the big bandage came off.

Question: Are you feeling any better and is the hand improving, or still as it was when you first wrote on this forum?

Hi Wini

The last few days I have been doing the exercises and the swelling has gone down so thanks everyone..😊.. But I did go to see the nurse today and she said I have another two weeks for stitches to be removed and confirmed this from my gp...😞... I am cleaning my hand with wipes and raising my hand.. So thankyou.. I definitely won't be getting my other hand done tho...😐.....

Glad to hear the swelling is going down, it's still very weird you have to wait soooo long to get the stitches out.  I don't understand it either.  Perhaps your cts was quite bad to start with.  Poor you.  I'm sorry it's affected your decision to have the other one done.  Mind you, I do have cts in my left wrist but it doesn't interfere with my life so much as the right one did.  No two cts ops are the same though (my surgeon told me this).  One could be difficult and the other can be a doddle - well as far as the best outcome and recovery is concerned.  For me, I drove today, the first time since the op and apart from a slight pull on the wound area, it was fine.  I'm so sorry you have had such a blasted hard time with this one.  If you lived near Little Melton, Norwich, I'd come and help you. Gentle exercises until it hurts, then hopefully you'll get there. Oh, painkillers when it gets too much.

Wini

Thankyou so much your so kind 😊 I live in Luton.. I'm bribing my son to help at moment with the washing up 😊 so its ok. I honestly don't know what is going on with my hand no one else has had this long to recover on this forum..😞.. I waited four years to have this surgery as my GP kept saying there was nothing wrong with my hand...😞 But finally I've had it done hopefully in a,few weeks I will be fine 😊.. Thankyou once again xx 😊👍

Hi Jina! Well we're all different. I had the surgery on my right hand in March 2014. Part of the symptoms weren't at all improved until just recently, around one year after the surgery. Even if some symptoms disappeared with the first month or so. Some symptoms are still there and new ones have appeared. It goes up and down in correlation with what I use my hand for. In general: a slow positive trend over the months I would say.